***updated with links galore***

It’s the 230th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. A new commemorative stamp series is being unveiled this week. Here are the honorees:

Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone

Basilone received the Medal of Honor during World War II for holding 3,000 Japanese soldiers at bay for 72 hours at Guadalcanal. He also destroyed a Japanese gun emplacement at Iwo Jima and was killed there during battle. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart.

Sgt. Maj. Daniel ‘Dan’ Joseph Daly

Daly received the Medal of Honor twice: in 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, and in 1915, when Marines were deployed to Haiti to protect American lives in the wake of an anti-government uprising.

Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune

The first Marine general to command an Army division in combat during World War I, Lejeune is credited with saving the Marine Corps from budget cuts and consolidations after the war and establishing Marine Corps institutions and traditions.

Lt. Gen. Lewis B. ‘Chesty’ Puller

Puller was a commander in World War II and Korea. He is the only Leatherneck to win the Navy Cross five times for heroism and gallantry. He received 14 personal decorations in combat, five Navy Crosses, one Army Distinguished Service Cross and several campaign medals, unit citation ribbons and other awards.

Donald Sensing has a moving tribute to the USMC, with a personal angle.

Joe Carter at WorldMag blog celebrates the occasion and links to the official USMC birthday greeting:

“Across the full spectrum of operations,” says Commandant General Hagee in the official birthday message, “you have showcased that Marines create stability in an unstable world, and have reinforced our Corps’ reputation for setting the standard of excellence.”

Say a prayer for Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Sorensen, 26, a rifleman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, who gave his life on Sunday while participating with his unit in Operation Steel Curtain.

NickS, a Marine guest blogging at Brutally Honest, posts another lovely tribute: Semper Fidelis.

Read this tribute at The Daily Demarche.

Ordinary Everyday Christian salutes Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone.

Marine blogger Kurt at Right Equals Might has a terrific commemorative post.

More Marine blogging at Red State Rant.

More great tributes from milbloggers (hat tip: Wunderkraut):

Half a Pica
Coalition of the Swilling here and here
Blackfive

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Related note: Don’t forget to give to Project Valour-IT!

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